Texas placed three players on the Jim Thorpe Award preseason watch list, including safety Blake Gideon, who recorded six interceptions as a sophomore last season. Cornerbacks Curtis Brown and Aaron Williams also made the list of 35.

The Jim Thorpe Award watch list is determined by analysis of the pre-season All-American teams listed in at least six pre-season college football annual magazines. A screening committee of Jim Thorpe Association members follows these players throughout the season, watching games and researching information sources to grade Thorpe Award candidates on the basis of performance on the field, athletic ability and character. The committee meets on the first Monday in November to narrow the field to 10 or 12 semifinalists.

The committee meets again on the Monday before Thanksgiving to select the three finalists. The names of these finalists are submitted to a national panel of about 50 sports writers, sportscasters, coaches and former players who vote to determine the winner.

As everybody is starting to churn out preseason college football rankings, the Crimson Tide earned another No. 1 spot.

This one isn't as prestigious as the AP poll, but the folks in Tuscaloosa who own PS3s will be happy as Alabama is ranked in the top spot for the upcoming release of EA Sports' NCAA Football '11.

Ohio State is No. 2, while Texas is No. 3. Oregon is No. 4, but if can still play with Jeremiah Masoli on the game that would make sense. Boise State rounds out the top 5. You can see all the preseason rankings here.

It's a little early, but time to give my preseason Top 10 for 2010. Lots of things can change, but here is what I got for now:

1. Alabama: The team will lose some starters on defense, including Terrence Cody, Rolando McClain and Javier Arenas, but there is still a ton of talent on that side of the ball. And look at all the starters back on offense. QB Greg McElroy, RB Mark Ingram, RB Trent Richardson and WR Julio Jones. The schedule works nicely in Alabama's favor too with home games against Penn State, Florida and Auburn. Three landmines which could prevent it from repeating -- at Arkansas (Sept. 25), at Tennessee (Oct. 23) and at LSU (Nov. 6).

2. Ohio State: If the Buckeyes can play like they did in the Rose Bowl, they will find themselves in the BCS championship game next year. Ten starters are back on offense, including Terrelle Pryor, the entire backfield and both wide receivers. Five starters back on the offensive line will be huge too. Ohio State gets Miami (Fla.) at home on Sept. 18 which will be the early test. The season likely comes down to the final three games of the season -- Penn State (Nov. 13), at Iowa (Nov. 20) and Michigan (Nov. 27)

3. Boise State: This is all you have to know about Boise being ranked this high: 21 of 22 starters from a team that went 14-0. Kellen Moore will be entering his junior season after one of the best seasons in college football -- 39 touchdowns and only three interceptions. The defense was great last season and only loses cornerback Kyle Wilson. Assuming Boise goes undefeated in conference play for the third consecutive season, there are two big games on the schedule -- at home against Oregon State and Virginia Tech in Maryland on Oct. 2. Could this be the year the Broncos get into the title game?

4. Oregon: Another team that will be loaded with returners, including all 11 on offense. The Ducks offense was very explosive last year and should be again with the return of QB Jeremiah Masoli and RB LaMichael James. Keep an eye on the defense with the return of all three linebackers. The biggest holes to fill will be on the defensive line and replacing cornerback Walter Thurmond. The Ducks get a quick test playing at Tennessee on Sept. 11. The Pac-10 schedule will be tough again, especially with road games at USC (Sept. 30), at California (Nov. 13) and at Oregon State (Nov. 27).

5. Iowa: The Hawkeyes showed in the Orange Bowl what a difference Ricky Stanzi makes at quarterback. With him back along with running backs Adam Robinson and Brandon Wegher and wide receivers Derrell Johnson-Koulianos and Marvin McNutt, Iowa will challenge Ohio State for the Big Ten title. The defense will again be one of the best in the country, especially in the secondary with Tyler Sash coming back. The schedule works perfectly for Iowa in its run to the a perfect season, getting Penn State, Wisconsin and Ohio State all at home.

6. Nebraska: Yes, Ndamukong Suh will be gone, but he wasn't a one-man team. One of the best defenses in the nation last year will be strong again with the return of DE Pierre Allen and DT Jared Crick. The key will be on offense if QB Zac Lee and RB Roy Helu can keep the ball moving. With the return of four offensive lineman, the Cornhuskers should be in great shape to challenge for the Big 12 Championship. Biggest game of the season will be Oct. 16 vs. Texas.

7. TCU: The Horned Frogs should be strong again with a team that returns a ton of players. It won't be easy to find a replacement for DE Jerry Hughes. With Andy Dalton back for one more season at quarterback and the return of WR Jimmy Young, the team should still be in great shape for another run at a BCS bowl. Obviously the conference has gotten better and a big game at Utah looms. So far TCU has only two non-conference opponents in Baylor and SMU, but it still has to find two more games.

8. Texas: The Longhorns won't be as good as they were this year. Too many key players will be gone, but Texas still has a nice group of returners back and should find itself in the Top 10. QB Garrett Gilbert got something to build on for next year with his appearance in the title game against Alabama. All the running backs return and a good core of wide receivers are back too. Earl Thomas is gone at safety, but Blake Gideon returns. The hardest part to replace will be the defensive line with the loss of Sergio Kindle. Oct. 2 vs. Oklahoma and Oct. 16 at Nebraska will be the season.

9. (tie) Virginia Tech: The defense lost some key players during the offseason, including Kam Chancellor and Jason Worilds, but the Hokies always just plug in newcomers and never miss a beat. The good news for Virginia Tech will be the return of sophomore running back Ryan Williams and junior Darren Evans, along with QB Tyrod Taylor. With those three back, the Hokies should be able to run all over opposing defenses. The Boise State game looms on Oct. 2 before huge road games at North Carolina and at Miami (Fla.)

9. (tie) Miami, Fla.: The offense is there for the Hurricanes to make a serious run at the ACC title. QB Jacory Harris returns with wide receivers LaRon Byrd and Leonard Hankerson. A big question mark will be at running back, where Craig Cooper might miss the entire season due to a knee injury. The defense must get better at the linebacker position, but the secondary returns four strong players, including Brandon Harris at corner. Two huge out of conferences games will test Miami early -- at Ohio State (Sept. 11) and at Pittsburgh (Sept. 25).

9. (tie) North Carolina: Don't laugh, here is a team that returns nine starters on a great defense and 10 starters on offense. Defensive lineman Robert Quinn and Marvin Austin will anchor the front seven with linebacker Quan Sturdivant controlling the middle of the field. The offense must get better, so with T.J. Yates and WR Greg Little back for one more season ... this is their chance. The Tar Heels play LSU in Atlanta during the opening weekend (Sept. 4), so we'll see how good this team is.

As we get closer to National Signing Day on Feb. 4, most of the big names have already decided where they are going. But there are still a handful of 5-star recruits who have yet to make a decision.

One of the biggest ones, according to Maxpreps.com and Tom Lemming is D'Andre Kirkpatrick, from Gadsden, Alabama. The 6-foot-4, 185 defensive back is ranked 12th overall by Lemming.

He already visited Alabama, Florida and most recently Texas. According to GoUpstate.com, he is considering a visit to Clemson this weekend. According to GoVolstra, he canceled a planned trip to LSU.

Some other big names ...

Jelani Jenkins, a 6-2, 220-pound linebacker from Olney, Maryland, is one of the most sought-after recruits. He most recently visited Penn State. According to the online newspaper Gazette.net, the Nittany Lions could be the frontrunner, especially since Jenkins' high school teammate Mike Wallace decided to sign there. In a story in the USA Today, Jenkins' dad said "It's down to Florida, Penn State, Notre Dame, Stanford and Southern Cal."

Jarvis Jones, a 6-3, 215-pound linebacker from Columbus, Georgia, still hasn't made up his mind. Along with the Bulldogs and Gators, he is also still considering LSU, Texas and USC. According to the Shreveport Times, Jones will head to Baton Rouge for a visit this weekend.

Edison High School in Fresno, California had three players named to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and two have already found homes to play college ball.

Safety T.J. McDonald committed to USC, cornerback Cliff Harris gave a verbal to attend Oregon, but wide receiver Rolando Jefferson hasn't made a decision yet. Jefferson has visited Arizona, Oregon, Utah and Fresno State, but Georgia Tech is also in the mix.

Scenario 1 -- Alabama wins out, but Oklahoma beats Texas Tech and then wins the Big 12. Who plays Alabama for the national title? You have to assume Tech is out because they lost late, so the choice is Oklahoma or Texas. Texas won the head-to-head, but will Oklahoma be able to vault the Longhorns based on winning the Big 12?

Scenario 2 -- Texas Tech wins out and they are in the national title game. Florida loses, but comes back to beat Alabama in the SEC title game. Who do the Red Raiders play? Texas in a rematch game? Do the pollsters jump USC up so we don't have a Big 12 vs. Big 12 title game?

Scenario 3 -- Texas Tech beats Oklahoma, but loses in the Big 12 title game, so it has one loss. Florida loses to South Carolina, then comes back to beat Alabama. Who is in? Texas with one loss, the team that lost to Texas Tech? USC?

Scenario 4 -- Florida loses to Florida State, but then comes back and beats Alabama in the SEC title game. Both teams are out. Oklahoma beats Texas Tech. Who plays for the national title? Oklahoma vs. Texas? Oklahoma vs. USC? Texas vs. USC? Let's even throw in that Oregon State won the Pac-10, but USC still only has one loss -- does that change your mind?

Scenario 5 -- Florida loses to FSU, comes back and beats Alabama in the SEC title. Oklahoma beats Texas Tech, but then loses to Missouri in the Big 12 title game. Texas wins out. USC stumbles (take your choice -- UCLA/Stanford/ND). Utah is undefeated. Penn State has one loss. Who you got? Texas, who didn't win its division vs. Utah? Does Penn State jump back up? What about an undefeated Boise State?

Scenario 6 -- Florida loses to FSU, comes back and beats Alabama in the SEC title. Oklahoma beats Texas Tech, but the Sooners lose the Big 12 title game. Texas loses at Kansas. USC loses to Stanford. Penn State loses to Michigan State. Utah and Boise State are both undefeated. Who plays? What if Utah and Boise State both lose? Could we actually have a SEC runner up in Alabama with one loss vs. some random team? Ball State, stand by.

I'd love to hear what you guys think. Any chance we can get to see the BCS explode is always a good thing.

Christmas Eve is the day when kids get all excited because Santa is coming tomorrow and hoping to get the presents they asked for.

Signing Day Eve is the day when adults get all excited because the five-star recruit they've been drooling over the past two months, might put on the hat of their favorite team. I'm sure Ohio State, Michigan and Notre Dame fans all over the country will have trouble sleeping tonight, because they don't know what tomorrow will bring.

I can't make any promises, but here is what I bring today .... rumors:

As reported by the Bleacher Report, the nation's No. 1 wide receiver Julio Jones, might be signing with Alabama.

The website said he was spotted at the LSU-Alabama basketball game in Tuscaloosa on Saturday with Alabama commits Burton Scott and Robert Lester.

Jones has basically narrowed his choices down to Oklahoma, Florida State and Alabama. Texas Tech also had a shot, but he canceled his visit this weekend to Lubbock. He will announce his plans at 11 a.m. on ESPNU's recruiting show.

As for the nation's top quarterback Terrelle Pryor, its down to Ohio State and Michigan.

According to the Detroit Free Press, Terrelle Pryor told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review he is 80 percent sure he'll announce his college choice Wednesday afternoon on National Signing Day.

That pretty much means Oregon is out, considering he never visited the campus. So it's all coming down to Ohio State or Michigan.

Darrell Scott, the nation's No. 1-rated running back, is expected to choose between Colorado and Texas.

According to the Daily Camera, Scott told several recruiting services last month he was leaning toward Texas because it offers the chance to play early, tradition and warm weather. In interviews last fall, Scott told the Daily Camera and other media outlets he was heavily favoring Colorado because of early playing time and the fact his uncle, freshman wide receiver Josh Smith, is already a Buff.

The only other undecided player left on CSTV.com's Top 25 is Quinton Coples, a 6-foot-6, 245-pound, defensive lineman from Virginia.

Coples has a handful of schools to choose from, including Florida State, Tennessee, North Carolina and N.C. State. Mike Farrell, from Rivals.com, reported there are also strong rumors that he is headed to join the Tar Heels, but Coples has publicly denied that he is committed, and he is scheduled to announce on Signing Day.

With National Signing Day right around the corner, the top three prospects are still undecided.

The nation's No. 1 prospect, QB Terrelle Pryor, appears to have his choices down to four.

According to Terrelle Pryor's official website -- yes, he has his own official site -- he says he's still considering Ohio State, Michigan, LSU and Oregon, which indicates that Florida and Penn State may have fallen out of the picture.

He just visited Michigan and the Detroit Free Press reports his high school coach "liked" his trip. Pryor sat with Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez for parts of the game and Pryor was serenaded with “WE WANT PRYOR!!!” and “COME TO MICHIGAN!!!” chants from the student section.

He already visited Ohio State and will probably get to LSU and Oregon in the next couple of weeks.

"I talked over the Michigan visit with my dad when I got back, and I still have a lot of comparing to do," Pryor said. "And I'm going to take at least one or two more official visits if I can fit them in."

Darrell Scott, the nation's top RB, is likely leaning toward Texas. "Texas is still in the same place they were before. They hold a slight lead over Colorado."

According to BurntOrangeNation.com, the coaches from Austin are think they're going to win this battle with the Buffaloes. Scott still might be taking a visit to LSU, but it appears to be down the two Big 12 rivals. His uncle, Josh Smith, is a freshman wide receiver with the Buffaloes, which could play into where he lands.

The DailyCamera.com, a newspaper from Colorado, said Scott told them nothing is more important to him than family when he made an official visit to Colorado in October, but they also report that Scott isn't a fan of the cold weather in Boulder, which is one of the reasons Texas is in the lead.

As for Julio Jones, the nation's top receiver from Alabama. He is considering Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Oklahoma and Texas Tech, but the Crimson Tide are definitely the front runner. According to RollBamaRoll.com, he cut short his visit to Florida, so they are probably out.

He is headed to Norman, OK to visit the Sooners this weekend, where Stoops and Co. will try their hardest to steal him from Saban.